Red Cross

If You could describe Your organization in one sentence - what would You say?
We are like a big family, where everybody learn something from the others.

When did you start your work in Romania?
In 1876.

What is the main goal of Red Cross?
Let’s say it straight: first aid and social help.

How many volunteers do you have in Baia Mare office and how many in Romania?
We have around 40 volunteers in Baia Mare, however in whole Romania about 25 000.

Do You have some foreign volunteers?
Here in Baia Mare we don’t but in big cities like Bucharest I am sure they have.

What was Your the biggest undertaking?
There is a lot to say. Last year in October for example we opened “food bank” and we prepared packages for Christmas. We will do it also this year.

Plans for future?
We want to gain new volunteers, develop cooperation with other organizations and of course do our work.

What activates do You have right now?
For now we have summer break so I can’t say much about that. We only have summer camps for trainings.

Is Red Cross well known in Baia Mare?
Yes, because of international character of our organization.

From where are You taking Your funds to prepare activates, projects?
We are taking our funds from: City Hall, from Bucharest Red Cross Office, from first aid courses.

What is the biggest problem in Your organization?
We don’t have big problems. We have small ones depends on project.

Do You cooperate with any other organization?
In Baia Mare we cooperate with Somaschi, boy scauts, catolic community, Sacro Cuore. 

Interview with Caludia Koblicica and Crina Serbu - members of ARTEMIS organization

If You could describe Your organization in one sentence - what would You say?

Claudia and Crina: Helping women and children who are victims of violence.

When did You start Your work in Romania?

Claudia and Crina: We started in october 1999.

What is the main goal od EDERA?

Claudia and Crina: Like I said before, we are trying to help victims of violence.

How many volunteers do You have in Baia Mare?

Claudia and Crina: We are local organization but there are similar around here - for example in Cluj Napoca. Because of kind of help we don't have many volunteers, our work suppose to be confidential.
We involve youngsters from schools only to help in promotion activities.

Do You have some foreign volunteers?

Claudia and Crina: No, we don't have.

What was Your the biggest undertaking?

Claudia and Crina: We are taking part in international campaign - 16 days against violence.
We are proud of the fact that every year we help around 100 women and children.

Plans for future?

Claudia and Crina: To go on and develop our work.

What activietes do You have right now?

Claudia and Crina: During whole year we are giving psychological consultation.
During school time we organize trainings to improve people's awareness
about fighting with violence.

Is EDERA well known in Baia Mare? What are You doing to involve people to Your projects?

Claudia and Crina: Yes, a lot of people know Artemis. It like "Helping chain" - people who got help advice others to come and help themselves.

From where are You taking Your funds to prepare activietes, projects ?

Claudia and Crina: It started with EU project after that since 2006. So we had funds from there. The city hall decided to pay people who are working in our organization.

What is the biggest problem in Your organization?

Claudia and Crina: The difficulty to obtain funds.

Do You cooperate with any other organization?

Claudia and Crina: Yes, for example with City Hall, Child Protection, HHC, Somaschi, YMCA, Femina 21 and during our campaign with all kinds of media.

Interview with Andreea Tundrea - President of Team 4 Youth Association

Andreea Tundrea

President of Team 4 Youth Association

When did you start your adventure with voluntary service?
Andreea: In 2008, September I left from Romania to be an EVS volunteer in Bystrzyca Klodzka, Poland for 9 months. I didn’t know exactly what I was supposed to do there, I was just happy to join such a project after finishing my university studies. I spent 9 months working in EFM office, dealing with different activities for youngsters and children. This is how I started my adventure as a volunteer and this is how I decided that I must start my career as a youth worker.

 

What was the reason that you decided to go abroad as a volunteer?
Andreea: After finishing my university studies I was too confused regarding what my future career should be. I decided to go abroad for an EVS in order to broaden my horizont about different cultures, different people, different possibilities. It helped me a lot!

Where did you spend your voluntary service and what kind of project it was?
Andreea: I did my European Voluntary Service in Poland, Bystrzyca Klodzka. It is a small town in south-western part of the country. Mountainous region, beautiful landscape. My project was about the EUROWEEK, school of leadership. It is a national training course for youngsters. It takes place one week every month. I was one of the trainers and facilitators of the event. I also worked with English language classes in the local community. What is more, I got involved with some of the projects of the hosting organization and this helped a lot in gaining experience about what youth work is. As a multiplying effect I work now with an NGO in my own country.


Why Poland? Why EVS?
Andreea: I didn’t choose the country, the country chose me. I sent lots of applications for EVS to different organizations that I found interesting on the EVS database. The Polish one called me first and the idea of the project seemed very interesting to me. Also, I wanted to get to know a culture that I didn’t have access to before and Poland was one of the best choices. EVS, because I find it to be a great opportunity for youngsters to live in a different environment, to grow up, to learn to be active, to have access to different ideas, opinions. It is a way of forming a new perspective about the world, about your own life.


What is the difference between Amicus and EVS?
Andreea: This is an easy question for me, as I spent days and nights trying to find the answer when I was helping in the preparation of the project in Poland. What I found out: Amicus is a programme concentrating on promoting and encouraging civic work and voluntarism. It has three main parts: dissemination of information on a national level (this means information campaigns, national events, competitions in the applicant country), research in the partners country (with the help of the AMICUS volunteers and the partners, the coordinating organization must provide a report stating the level of civic work and voluntarism in the participant countries), and voluntary service (this is pretty much similar with what EVS is, that is hosting and sending volunteers abroad in different activities).


What is the main reason that you decided to work in your own organization in Romania?
Andreea: My friends and I always say that once you join youth work you do it for life, it’s addictive. Being an EVS volunteer in Poland was my first step towards this addiction. I couldn’t stop afterwards so I decided to open my organization in Romania. What makes it so addictive: non-formal education is one of the things really missing in the lives of youngsters, especially in central and eastern European countries. When you start a project for non-formal education and you see how youngsters develop so fast under your coordination and how much they enjoy and need that you provide activities for them, the personal satisfaction is so significant that you can’t think about working in another field. The intercultural part is also fascinating and really important.

Team 4 Youth's activities 

 

Interview with Bogdan Ilutiu - member of SOMASCHI organization

If You could describe Your organization in one sentence - what would You say?
Bogdan: Nice! Try to be close to people in need.

When did you start Your work in Romania?
Bogdan: In 1994 we organized our first summer camp but officially we started our work in 1997. 

What is the main goal of SOMASCHI?
Bogdan: Helping children in need (homeless, from broken homes).

How many volunteers do You have in Baia Mare?
Bogdan: In Baia Mare we have around 30 volunteers but we collaborate with the others, who used to live here but they moved to different cities.

Do You have some foreign volunteers?
Bogdan: Yes, we do. Every year we have a few foreign volunteers. For example from Italy.

What was Your the biggest undertaking?
Bogdan: We opened night shelter – the only one in this area - for homeless children and with law
problems.

Plans for future?
Bogdan: We will try to develop our work to prepare youngsters (over 14) to social life and build up their future.

What activities do You have right now?
Bogdan: In one hand we carry day center for children from 12-18 years old, who attend school. From the other hand we try to persuade those who don’t to continue their education. There is also a foster house with 8 children and we help them. The other important thing is that our volunteers are trying to persuade addicted people to quit it and visit our shelter. We have our own pharmacy, where people whom we help can get free medicaments.

Is SOMASCHI well known in Baia Mare? What are You doing to involve people to Your projects?
Bogdan: Yes, we are quite well known. To involve more people we are doing volunteer’s recruitments.

From where are You taking Your funds to prepare activities, projects, etc.?
Bogdan: We are taking our funds from: City Hall, donators from Italy, from ourselves, government. We also sell things made by children.


What is the biggest problem in Your organization?
Bogdan: Lack of qualified crew, and of course money.

Do You cooperate with any other organization?

Bogdan: Yes, with Caritas, ASSOC, Red Cross, City Hall, Esperanto and Churches.

Interview with Claudia Cufoian - member of Sacro Cuore organization

If You could describe Your organization in one sentence - what would You say?

Claudia: I can't say it just in one sentence. We are trying to educate children beacuse we believe it is a chance in their live.

When did You start work in Romania?

Claudia: Fundation was opened by italian nuns 14 years ago. Daily center about 5, 6 years ago.

What is the main goal of SACRO CUORE?

Claudia: To show children and youth that there is another way of living, to teach them to organize their live and persuade to learn.

How many volunteers do You have in Baia Mare?

Claudia: We have around 25-30 volunteers. Most of them are taking their job very serious. Also, that's very important for us that volunteers are well prepared.

Do You have some foreign volunteers? Do You organize some exchanges with people from different  countries?

Claudia: No, now we don't have foreign volunteers. Only last year we had 2 girls from Italy for 2 weeks. If we are talking about exchanges - yes we had - especially during summer time. Group of american and italian students came to work with children. 

What is Your the biggest undertaking?

Claudia: The biggest undertaking is to work with families because they don't see necessity to educate children. 

Plans for future?

Claudia: We have lots of plans for future. For example we would like to  open a day center for pre-school children (2-6 yeras old).

What activietes do You have right now?

Claudia: During summer time we organize 2 weeks holidays in village near to Baia Mare. We are trying to socialize group of our kids with kids from different community.

Is SACRO CUORE well known in Baia Mare? What are You doing to involve people to Your projects?

Claudia: It's important to work - when that part is well done we don't need a publicity!

From where are You taking Your funds to prepare activietes, projects ect?

Claudia: Mostly, we are taking money from City Hall and from  some italian sponsors. We cooperate also with pasty laboratory - theay are giving us cookies. 

What is the biggest problem in Your organization?

Claudia: I don't think we have  big problems. Of course we would like to do more (for example teach hygiene) but there is always lack of financial support.

Do You cooperate with any other organization?

Claudia: Yes, we have many partners, for example Red Cross or Children Palace.

Interview with Ghirdan Paul - member of EDERA organization

If You could describe Your organization in one sentence - what would You say?

Paul: Keep smiling :)

When did You start Your work in Romania?

Paul: We started in 2008.

What is the main goal od EDERA?

Paul: Our mai goal is to show children (from 5 to 14) what is right and what is wrong. We invite them also to different kind of activites like painting, dancing. We organize meetings with police officers, firefighters etc. to teach them right behaviours.

How many volunteers do You have in Baia Mare?

Paul: We work only in Baia Mare and we have 3 volunteers.

Do You have some foreign volunteers?

Paul: No, we don’t have foreign volunteers. Also we don’t organize exchanges but we are planing, why not?

What was Your the biggest undertaking?

Paul: This year we organized two weeks camp. We invited police officers, medics, psyhologists - all of them were volunteers and taught children some useful reactions. This camp was in church in Baia Mare, later we sent a group of children to the seaside.

Plans for future?

Paul: We don’t have any precise plans, but we are thinking about some activities during Christmas and taking part in some kind of festival in Baia Mare.

What activites do You have right now? Is there something special during summer or school time?

Paul: We are trying to organize painting and dancing classes which can be helpful in integrating. Not paying attention to children from poor families is a hugh problem in Romania and we want to change it - at least a little bit.

Is EDERA well known in Baia Mare? What are You doing to involve people to Your projects?

Paul: Yes, we are well known in local mass-media. It is very hard to involve people to our projects but we are begging them :)

From where are You taking Your funds to prepare activietes, projects ?

Paul: Most of our funds are from my me and my parents.

What is the biggest problem in Your organization?

Paul: Sometimes the biggest problem is ignoration - but only sometimes. Of course it’s all about money. When you don’t have it you don’t have hope.

Do You cooperate with any other organization?

Paul: Yes, we cooperate with Rotary Club and with churches. That part of our work belongs to my mother and she is responsible for all kind of cooperation.

GHIRDAN PAUL - EDERA

Interview with Jenny Ball - U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer

 Jenny Ball

U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer

Arkansas, USA

 1.      What are You doing in Romania?

Jenny: I am a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer working in the Environmental Education and Management sector.  I am partenered with a small NGO Asociația Concordia Săsar about 5 kilometers outside of Baia Mare.  Primarily I help implement an afterschool program through the village libraries where I do activities  promoting environmental awareness and protection and teach English to primary school children in the villages in the Recea commune.  I try to use as informal and experiential educational techniques as often as I can in this program because the kids receive something out of the ordinary for them and tend to get the message much easier.

I also support local leaders in the community in their endeavors.  I usually partner with the librarian, primary school teachers, and the mayor’s office.  For my secondary project, I am a member of the Club for Young Leaders in Baia Mare, which is a leadership training and personal development course for young adults.  Here, I also support group leaders by running some meetings or by being an active participant.

I also try to involve myself in the everyday events in the village like cooking for festivals, winemaking, the fall harvest, or planting gardens in the Spring because I will probably never have another opportunity like this in my life, and I want to have real life stories to share with my friends about living in Romania.

2.      Why did You decide to come to Romania? Did You have any other options?

Jenny: Peace Corps serves over 70 countries worldwide, so there were quite a few options, but when applying, one can one can only give a preference for a region/continent, not a specific country.  So I was quite surprised when I received an invitation to work in Romania, since I made a preference for Central Asia, and I had only 45 days before I had to step on the plane.  I said yes because I was interested in learning about the culture and people in this country and because I did not know if I’d receive another invitation from Peace Corps.

3.      What is the aim of your organization?

Jenny: Asociația Concordia chooses projects based on the motto, “Un sat vechi cu față nouă” which means, “An old village with a new face.”  The goal of the organization is to preserve the culture and environmental integrity of the village while promoting it’s development.  Some examples of projects are clean-up campaigns, a village museum, and sponsoring covered bus stops.

4.      What is your work about? Do You like it?

Jenny: This is a great question.  Though I have projects, I consider these things to be my job in the situation where I find myself:

·         I make sure to say thank-you and give feedback.

·         I am honest and refuse to do things that detract from my integrity.

·         I do my best to encourage and assist my friends and colleagues.

·         I do what I say I’ll do.

·         I listen.

·         I answer email.

Some days are more challenging than others, but I generally like my work.

5.      What do You like the most in your project and what would you like to change?

Jenny: I like the environmental education I do with my kids in the villages the most because I feel that they can have a large impact on improving upon the environmental issues in Romania and in their communities and especially when they develop a sense of respect and wonder for the natural world early on in their lives, and it’s often just plain fun.  For my next year, I would like more involvement from the parents or other adults because it’s nice to have someone else to exchange ideas with, and sometimes, the kids are a little too out-of-control for me to handle on my own.

6.      Do You like living in Romania? What is your impression about this country?

Jenny: I do.  At first, I had some difficulties adjusting due to learning a new language and culture, figuring out my job, and not being allowed to do any “work” on Sundays, but after one year in Săsar, it’s hard to imagine that I will eventually leave for the States.  I love how the people in my village are very giving, resourceful, and seem to know how to do almost anything.  I have also been amazed in my travels throughout Transylvania by hoew people “make it work”  in difficult situations and circumstances.

7.      The most surprising thing during your stay in Romania so far?

Jenny: I know I could say something more interesting, but the answer is Lady Gaga.  Why is she everywhere?

8.      Comparing US and Romania - what is the biggest difference in the mentality of the people?

Jenny: When I was in the US, I tended to notice a sense of optimism and individualism among the general population.  If something needed to be changed in your community or personal life, it’s up to you to do it, and the path to do so was generally transparent (maybe full of legal jargon but understandable by someone).  Most importantly, I felt that you could always find someone to say that “it” is possible. Here, it’s hard to go a day without hearing the expression, “Asta este.”  “That’s the way it is.”  From my observations, people do not generally feel like they have the power make change, but they also receive little encouragement from peers.  Of course, as I say this, I can think of many wonderful  exceptions, but the general atmosphere is simply different.

9.      Do You think that your work is useful and will make any change?

Jenny: I find that what I do is often useful in ways I did not expect, and I hope that the work I do will have an impact later on.  The environmental lessons may not immediately influence behavior change, but the personal attention does.  I can’t tell you how irked I get when I see my kids still throwing their ice cream wrappers on the ground after the numerous times we have picked up trash and learned about the negative impact on the environment.  However, some of the same kids have adopted a monument in the village and have formed a club to take care of it, showing that they are learning to take responsibility and initiative.  Hey, you can’t win everything, can you?

What do You expect after finishing that project?

Jenny: I would like for my Romanian colleagues to continue our work with kids in Săsar and the other villages in the commune, and I know that they will using some of the resources I will leave behind.  Personally, I want to be accepted into Veterinary School.   

Interview with Stelian Grigore, Coordinator Info Center "Let's do it, Romania"

What is "Let's do it, Romania" project about?

Steli: "Let's do it, Romania" is about cleaning the whole country in one day, on the 25th of September.

Is it for the first time in Romania? When did it start?

Steli: Yes, it's the first time in Romania, but the project is international. We started prepairing it in March.

Are you member of "Team 4 Youth"? What is your work about?

Steli: No, I'm not. I only volunteer for "Let's do it, Romania". I'm the coordinator of the Info Center.

Is it possible for anyone to join the project?

Steli: Yes, of course. We need as many volunteers as we can get.

Do you know if that kind of projects are also abroad?

Do you cooperate with each other? 

Steli: Yes, there are in Portugal and Poland.

No.

What do you think: will your work on this project (and project generally) make any change in people behavior and mentality?

Steli: We hope so.

What do you expect after that project?

Steli: We expect people to take better care of the envinorment. And we expect a lot of people to get involved, from all social backgrounds.

What's your plans after "Let's do it, Romania"? Are you going to organize similar project in the future?

Steli: Yes, we plan to, because we will have the experiance from tis project.

Interview with member of ASSOC organization

If you could describe your organization in one sentence – what would you say?

Bianca: It is an NGO for vulnerable persons.

When did you start working in Romania?

Bianca: We started working here in 1997.

What is the main goal of Assoc?

Bianca: We aim at increasing the chances of social inclusion.

Bianca Pricop Salagean

How many volunteers do you have in Baia Mare office and how many in Romania?

Bianca: We have around 20 volunteers in Baia Mare.

Do you have some foreign volunteers?

Bianca: At the moment we don't have foreign volunteers, but we had a few in the past and we also plan of having some in the future.

What was your biggest undertaking?

Bianca: I would say providing services for old persons. We have a social center for them, we offer counciling food, medical care.

Plans for future?

Bianca: We plan on developing the protected calls, which are all kinds of services for vulnerable people (disabled persons, people with low income, Roma people). We try to find jobs for people who don't have access on the work market.

What activities do you have right now? Is there something special during summer?

Bianca: No, we have no special summer activities. Right now we have the center for old people, which I've already mention and another daily center for youngsters with disabilities.

Is Assoc well known among people in Baia Mare? What are you doing to involve people in your projects?

Bianca: Yes, very, because we promote our services and make them attractive. We even get donations.

From where are you taking your funds to prepare activities, projects, etc?

Bianca: We have funds from the local authorities and from the EU.

What is the biggest problem in your organization?

Bianca: The problem is that our projects last only as long as we get the fundings.

Do you collaborate with any others organizations?

Bianca: Yes, we do. With Esperando, with the public services of social assistance, the Deaf & Blind Assosiacion, AJOFM.

Interview with Linda - EVS volunteer in our organization

Linda from Austria

18 years old

EVS volunteer in Team 4 Uth

Why voluntary service?

Linda: I decided to do voluntary service because I always wanted to help people without taking money for what I do. After finishing high-school it was the perfect moment to do it - I was not sure what I wanted to study and instead of  “wasting my time” I applied for EVS.

Why Romania ? Are You happy because of Your choice?

Linda: I did not exactly choose Romania-it chose me. One day I received a mail from my Sending Organization with a description of team for Youth and their project. After lots of unanswered applications from everywhere in Europe it seemed like fate to go to Romania, an undeveloped country to “fight poverty”.

Why have You decided on long-term voluntary project (6 months)?

Linda: I wanted to experience a different culture and different life. In my opinion a short-term project is not enough to get to know the people and their way of living and thinking.

What is Your work about?

Linda: Celen – the other EVS volunteer, and me are going to orphanages to play with the children and teenagers. Also, we try to tech them English, sing with them or Celen shows them some tricks how to improve their drawing skills. Moreover, I give weekly English lesson and soon I will start to teach some people German. So its quite varied work.

What after Your stay in Romania? Are You going to continue this kind of job?

Linda: I do not know what is expecting me after EVS, but I think I want to try working in a different field so that I can get to know other types of jobs.

The best and the worst experience during project in Romania?

Linda: Many nice experiences, some not so good moments. There is no best and worse experience for me.

What would You like to change in Your project?

Linda: My project is a new project. Celen and me are their first EVS volunteers, so it is still natural that the project has to develop. However, I think this will happen automatically and the only thing I want to do at the moment is wait and see. Maybe I can tell You more in the end of my stay here in Romania.

How did You find out about this kind of project?

Linda: As I said before -  it found me ;)

Do You know the different between EVS and AMICUS?

Linda: Vaguely.